Maybe it`s a women`s health book - maybe it`s a fact. Afterall, african americans do suffer significantly higher rates of coronary heart disease - but does that make it racist to point out? I know know, maybe that depends on the context. Either way, before you find out what that context is, shutup I-A-B.

I don`t think it`s racist, but I find it questionable because they /had to/ make that a caption for a picture with 2 overweight black women (and one average weight). It`s like saying "this is our proof for this statistic". Poor choice imo because it turns the statistic into a joke.

If the book said: `Anorexia seldom occurs among North American white women`, would it still be racist? I strongly suspect that you are a closet/latent racist that makes stupid remarks in an attempt to hide or disguise your true feelings. Usually people like you start a sentence with: `I`m not a racist, but...`

Scientific facts aren`t racist... people who interpret them as such ARE.

I recently took part in a big health survey, here in Amsterdam. One of the researchers told me she was leaving for Suriname to study the local population (who make up a huge part of Dutch citizens, over here in the Netherlands). She told me that black people from Suriname are prone to heart disease, but Hindu-Surinamese have higher rates of cardiovascular disease...

The more we know, the more we can do to make people around the world more healthy

How is that racist? If anorexia seldom occurs among North American black women, are we not supposed to talk about that? Cultural factors are important in figuring out how to treat illnesses, physical and psychological.

“There is another class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs — partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do do not want to lose their jobs.”

I think the only way this could be racist was if it said, "N-word bitches don`t have anorexia because those bitches eat a LOT of KFC" And they had a picture of 5 fat naked greased-up black ladies eating KFC. Rule 34.

I can` believe how completely ignorant and thoughtless this textbook is. As we dawn upon Black History Month, let`s remember how far we`ve gotten since the days of slavery, and how small minor details like this textbook, brings back the hate from that era.

1 out of every 3 black males ages 18-35 is involved in the correctional system on some point.

That isn`t racist, thats just true. Some times facts, while not fun, are still just facts. The fact in the picture isn`t even a bad one. Having low prevalence of anorexia is a good thing for any population.

Ruffiana: They `normalized` homosexuality in 1973 and are trying to normalize gender-identity disorder, sexual sadism and pedophilia now.

Many professionals warned that this would happen, but liberals scoffed at it as `slippery slope` fallacy. Well, we are at the tipping point now, about to make the big slide down into societal degradation and the liberals are still living in denial.

"Example, blacks and hispanics are more likely to drop out of high school and go to jail for violent crimes. But if I say that, I must be a racist."

If you say JUST that, then yes, you are a racist.

However, if you can provide statistics which show that Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to drop out of high school and go to jail for violent crimes than other races in the same social and economic groupings, then you are not a racist.

For example, take a look at an imaginary study of families living in the Western New York area (USA) with an average family income between $15,000 and $20,000. Let`s pretend that it shows that 25% of Blacks in the group will drop out of school, while only 5% of Whites in the same group will drop out of school. It wouldn`t be racist to say that for this group of people, Blacks are 5 times more likely to drop out of school. (PLEASE REMEMBER--THIS IS A MADE UP STUDY!)

"Since Homosexuality was reclassified, Pedophilia ha been classified as one of the several paraphilia mental disorders instead of the criminal behavior that it really is."

Mental disorders and criminal behavior are not mutually exclusive. I would say that anyone who is a pedophile is sick in the head, and suffering from a mental disorder. As long as the courts don`t say that they are not guilty by reason of mental defect, I`m fine with it being a mental disorder.

My political motivation would actually be the other way around. If the courts think that it being a mental disorder make them not guilty by reason of mental defect, then I would say politics should keep it from being a mental disorder.

Jamie76: The DSM-IV has lately been used as a political tool as well. Since Homosexuality was reclassified, Pedophilia ha been classified as one of the several paraphilia mental disorders instead of the criminal behavior that it really is.

This just illustrates the trend toward `normalizing` disorders, following the footsteps of homosexuality. The DSM, is no longer an honest representation of the true state of psychology, it`s a political football now, being rushed toward the `normalization` end zone.

Savagemonkey, LA has a 50% drop out rate for black male students. White male or asian males students in the same schoold districts don`t drop out as frequently. So why am I a racist to say that? I am not saying it`s because they are black, maybe it`s a social/cultural thing? Maybe it`s not. I don`t know.

But I do know, no problem ever got solved by ignoring it. Not satisfactorily anyway. Ignore cancer and that problem solves itself, you just don`t like the end result. It`s the same in a society... Ignore fact or dance around it and you only aid the problem.

Anorexia should actually be removed from the DSM-IV TR as a disorder and be reclassified as a cultural bound syndrome.

Anorexia is RARELY ever seen outside of highly industrialize nations and is usually prevelant only among whites, mostly female.

However, because the DMS is mostly consructed by health professional from the US and Europe, it is classified as if it belongs on the normal spectrum of disorders.

so why does this matter? it clearly demonstrates that we cannot take a long hard look at our own crap but we are pretty good at looking at other cultures crap and labeling it "culturally bound" instead of mainstream disorder.

anyone else here that is also a therapist or mental health worker (I am the latter) will understand what I am getting at.

"Example, blacks and hispanics are more likely to drop out of high school and go to jail for violent crimes. But if I say that, I must be a racist."

Only if you imply that the frequency you indicate is based solely on the basis of their race and ignore the fact that whites from similar socioeconomic backgrounds drop out of high school and go to prison at similar rates.

Its not saying, "This happens." That makes you racist. Its saying, "This happens because you`re black/hispanic/Asian/whatever." Or, if you happen to base your opinion on what people of other cultures are like based on hearsay and popular culture (movies, music, etc) rather than being around said person who is different.

Another statistic is that the people who are most rarely around people of differing skin color/culture/background are generally also the most intolerant and judgemental of them.

Socially, anytime a fact shows an unpleasant side to any "people of color" it`s called racism. You can throw that out there and the person citing fact has to go on the defensive.

Example, blacks and hispanics are more likely to drop out of high school and go to jail for violent crimes. But if I say that, I must be a racist.

However, any statistic that shows a negative side to white people is just more proof of the plight of "people of color" in the US. Double standard? Of course. But it`s our own fault for putting up with PC politics a decade ago.

That`s why I call myself a racist. I figure I`m gonna be called that anyway, so I might as well own it.